replacing 3rd brake light?

how is this done? in my car it is definitely not through the trunk. it would appear that i need to remove the rear shelf, but i was told on another forum that that involved removing the back seat, the seatbelts, speakers, etc, just to get to the 3rd brake light. seems like overkill.

Daniel, There is supposed to be a way of- squeezing the sides (or something like this) to have the box come loose from its base. I swear I've done it once but I'll be dammed if I can do at will, anytime I go for it maybe Ferdy has the exact combination. Rick

Makes it sound like it has tabs that lock into the carpeted fiber board on the rear shelf. I would try squeezing the base fore-aft or side-side to see if it will lift. If not, I guess you do have to do some "interior disassembly" to get it out safely.

But on the sunny side, if you get it out in one piece, you won't remember the half hour it took to get to it. If it breaks, well, beer time.

If I remember correctly there are two studs welded to the sheet metal that the brake light housing goes over and two plastic nuts secure it in place. You would have to remove the rear shelf to get to them! A lot of work just for that. If you are just wanting to change the bulb that can be done from the trunk.

No, it supposed to pop right off (can't prove that by me though). Daniel, do you mean the Po has changed something not allowing you access that lamp housing. My PO didn't get mine all the way back right, she sits a touch off kilter.

Just remember, the lamp fits on to the base that Is bolted down, as I remember!

QuoteEarendil
I read that and all I can think is how you are leaving the NW before I get a chance to say "hi".

Are you spending the summer out there, or will you be back?

well you are going to go to the e30 picnic, right? you live right next to it. it would be silly not to.

and i am spending the summer there, but i will be back in august.

I don't know about how close I am. Certainly closer than Oklahoma, but not exactly a day trip. You live closer than I do right now :-)

psh its only like an hour longer than i have to drive. it is possible i will have a hotel room near issaquah for saturday night. if i end up getting it i will let you know (ill find out in the next couple days).

I have a girlfriend in Kent who would love to see me in the off hours, if she isn't busy with family stuff.
Still, you might let me know in case she is too busy, or else I don't want to make the drive back down to south Seattle.

Nah, if it is anything like my 84, you just remove the speakers, the back seat (no biggie) and then the fiberboard base should pop out. The carpet is glued to the fiberboard. I think the speaker screws are what keep the fiberboard in place, I don't think they use pop buttons like the door panels, but you can tell by looking from the trunk.

QuotealanrwNah, if it is anything like my 84, you just remove the speakers, the back seat (no biggie) and then the fiberboard base should pop out. The carpet is glued to the fiberboard. I think the speaker screws are what keep the fiberboard in place, I don't think they use pop buttons like the door panels, but you can tell by looking from the trunk.

OK, but once you've done all that, you still need to pull the bulb out from the bottom, in the trunk, so there's no point.

QuotealanrwNah, if it is anything like my 84, you just remove the speakers, the back seat (no biggie) and then the fiberboard base should pop out. The carpet is glued to the fiberboard. I think the speaker screws are what keep the fiberboard in place, I don't think they use pop buttons like the door panels, but you can tell by looking from the trunk.

OK, but once you've done all that, you still need to pull the bulb out from the bottom, in the trunk, so there's no point.

there is a small, flat, black trim piece inside the trunk, but it is not directly underneath the brake light, and it doesn't seem to easily twist.

QuotealanrwNah, if it is anything like my 84, you just remove the speakers, the back seat (no biggie) and then the fiberboard base should pop out. The carpet is glued to the fiberboard. I think the speaker screws are what keep the fiberboard in place, I don't think they use pop buttons like the door panels, but you can tell by looking from the trunk.

OK, but once you've done all that, you still need to pull the bulb out from the bottom, in the trunk, so there's no point.

there is a small, flat, black trim piece inside the trunk, but it is not directly underneath the brake light, and it doesn't seem to easily twist.

You have trim pieces on the inside top side of your trunk? I'm pretty sure when you look up inside my trunk you see the metal frame, not unlike looking at the back of my trunk. But I haven't a clue how stock my trunk actually is, and I have very little experience with other E30's.
Can the trim piece be removed to unveil anything underneath? Based on what others here have on their cars, it seems more likely it is being hidden by that, then by the rear seat. Just wait for the weekend, and we can take a poll at the picnic ;-)

hm... anyone thought that two pictures might easily solve this ? one from '84, another from '91 ?
i also knew that the builb can be changed from the trunk (makes sense, too). perhaps you have an aftermarket 3rd light ? i'm not sure that in '84 they had it at all... at least on our contintent. my chassis number (1987) doesn't give me any parts for it. they only seem to exist from 1988:

i think first type from the diagram is for the break/wagon; second one is for the sedan/coupe (you can see how the bulb base goes out through the bottom) and the 3rd one - i have no idea what it is for.

In North America the center brake light was required beginning in 1986. Since Daniel's car is a 1988, it's probably a factory unit. I don't know why he can't see the bulb in the trunk, though. Apparently they changed something between 1988 and 1991, or maybe a previous owner installed some sort of covering on the top of the trunk that hides the bulb access.

The three shown in that picture are (from left to right) the M3 version, the sedan/coupe version and the Convertible version. As I recall, the earlier ones that are all plastic and not covered with carpet come apart from the inside and the bulb is replaced. You just have to pull the plastic housing cover off to access it. On the later ones like Daniel is describing it should be accessible from the trunk as others have suggested. That is what I remember, but I haven't owned an e30 in quite some time now.